Newton Abbot, Devon. A purposeful, busy and unpretentious town with the most entertaining market in South Devon. From the arrival of the railway in 1846 it grew at great pace; first as a rail junction, then increasingly as a market town and as a centre for the clay mines between Kingsteignton, 1¼ miles North and Bovey Tracey, 5 miles North West. These mines produce some of the best quality ball-clay in the world. As a result there are several good potteries locally which can be visited.

The most interesting housing in Newton Abbot is between Courtenay Park and Devon Square, just West of the station. Forde House, now an antique shop near the Industrial Estate entrance, was built for Sir Richard Reynell in 1610, stayed in by Charles I in 1625 and by William of Orange on his way to London. It has some very good decorated plaster ceilings. Off the Totnes road, Bradley Manor is basically 15th-century National Trust owned.

Up a road almost opposite, St Mary's Church, Wolborough (15th- and early 16th-century), has a fine early-l6th-century screen with a great number of panel paintings. Its brass eagle lectern is 15th-century.

Bovey Tracey is a pleasant, small, hillside town. Its church, which has a 14th-century tower but is otherwise mostly 15th-century, had a good screen, lavishly carved and coloured stone pulpit (both early 15th-century), two above average l7th-century monuments and other good detail.

The Heath immediately South, a source of the precious clay, saw a great rout of Royalists in 1646 by forces led by Cromwell himself.

Immediately West rises Dartmoor, and at Haytor, about 3½ miles West, is one of the moor's most spectacular crags. From its old quarries came granite and there was a tramway to carry the stone some 6 miles South East to a canal wharf at Teigngrace. It operated from 1820 to 1858 when the quarries closed; can be best seen near where it crosses the Manaton road 1/3 mile North West of the Rock Inn, Haytor Vale, which was built in 1825 as a quarrymen's hostelry.

About ¾ mile North of Haytor Vale, is the Yarner Wood National Nature Reserve. Trees — mainly oak, rowan, holly and birch — are its main interest, but it is also rich in birds. A nature trail is marked out. Permits are necessary to visit it; these are available at the lodge at its entrance off the B3344 Bovey Tracey—Manaton road.

Accommodation in Newton Abbot:

Find availability in a Newton Abbot bed and breakfast, also known as B&B or b and b, guesthouse, small hotel, self-catering or other accommodation.

KingsholmThe Kingsholm offers 4-star AA graded guest accommodation only 350 metres from Torquay's bustling Harbour with its many restaurants, cafes and bars. It is a fine Edwardian house situated in a conservation area, with many rooms overlooking the ornamental trees of Torwood Gardens. Our bedrooms are all en-suite and many overlook Torwood Gardens.

Buckingham LodgeWelcome to the Buckingham Lodge bed and breakfast Torquay. Steve and Nicola offer you a warm reception at our guest house located in the popular holiday town of Torquay on the English Riviera. For your convenience we are ideally located, being just 300 metres from the Torquay Riviera Conference Centre, an 8 minute walk to the beach at Torre Abbey Sands and Torquay railway station.